Deep Water Nymphing

[Travis C.]

From the looks of it the water on the Obey next week will be higher than normal. I plan on trying some deep water nymphing for the first time using some big stonefly imitations as a front fly then dropping small zebra midges on the second fly.

What are some of the different ways everyone fishes deep water with nymphs?

Rigging, sizes, techinques?

Thanks in advance for the help

Travis 

[dbradyh]

Do some research on the Brook's method use a shorter leader with 3-4 split shot...
This rig is not fun to cast, but the nymph gets down quickly and is best used with larger sized nymphs.
I have had much success fishing sculpins and hellgramite imitations for small mouth with this technique.

[Racer X]

Don't use a tapered leader.  Unless I'm in a boat , using light nymphs, or dries, I never use one.  Build your own using fluorocarbon.  If you've got any 10ft sticks, use them.  Consider not doing it right if you're not getting hung up every now and then.

[RSiegmann]

If you are needing to get down deep and in a hurry, you might try googling the "Chuck 'n Duck" method/cast ... Used it in Michigan when salmon and steelhead fishing ...  It's definitely not pretty, but it is effective in getting a fly quickly down into a deep hole ... It's been a while since I have been to there website, but the guys who run the Baldwin Bait and Tackle shop up in Baldwin, MI used to have a pretty decent article of the rigging and casting of the  "chuck n' duck" ...

I was never a big fan of the approach myself ... mostly because I found that much weight flying by my ear uncomfortable ... but it was effective ...

[adamtn]

When I'm really trying to get down in some fast water this is my preffered rigging. I use a 2ft butt section of an old tapered leader tied to a thingamabobber with a clinch knot. Then i rig a section of 3x floro thats about 6-7ft long, tie a piece of 4-5x tippet on and add split shot till i'm ticking bottom. The straight section of 3x gets down much quicker than a tapered leader.

This rig is what i use during the spring runoff in colorado or if i'm fishing some deeper faster runs and want to really get it down quick. For some people, it can be tough to cast, especially if you have added 2-4 AB split shot. In that scenario, i usually have them use a roll cast or tension haul to lob the rig without having to backcast the rig.

[Travis C.]

Thanks guys for all the help, I intend on trying some of these this weekend. They Obey seems to be backing down a little but there some good deep stretches downstream. 

Thanks again,
 
Travis

[MikeA]

http://www.trophyfishingtn.com/trophy-fishing-tn-davy-wooton-article2.htm